Rudy: "The countdown is underway to an event organizers are billing
as the cultural event of the millennial year, as if we haven't heard
that before. But this really is a big deal because it's the first
World Exposition to be hosted in Germany. Hanover, Germany to be
exact. Let's get right to the details with Michelle Kholos and this
week's Culture Watch. So Michelle, what's the theme for this expo?"

Michelle: "Well, the theme is 'Humankind... Nature... and Technology;
a New World Arising'. And it's tied to the U.N.'s program for
sustainable development."

Rudy: "I hear that it's not just about technology. There's also a lot
of emphasis on the arts, right?"

Michelle: "Yes, what's being billed as the 'Festivals of the world'
looks like it's going to be packed with performances by international
musicians and artists of all kinds. Plus, organizers say that
visitors will get to see some traditional rituals from around the
world that are thousands of years old, some that have never been seen
outside their native countries."

Rudy: "Oh, like what?"

Michelle: "Well, like these beautiful, artistically-decorated
Moroccan horse riders that demonstrate a 1,500 year-old desert
ritual. And, I don't really know how ancient this practice is but,
one of the cultural contributions from Spain is going to be a
nine-story tower made from 200 human bodies. That's the plan, anyway."

Rudy: "Wouldn't want to be on the bottom of that heap!"

Michelle: "No kidding! Let's see, what else. Well, from Mexico
there's a show featuring a group who fly from the top of a large mast
to offer gifts from the sun to the earth, and the reason is that
they're begging their ancestors for protection."

Rudy: "Lots of people expected?"

Michelle: "Yeah, I'd say 40 million people is a pretty good size
crowd, but that's over the course of the entire event. Some pretty
high-profile guests are making the trip."

Rudy: "Like who?"

Michelle: "Well, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, Princess Caroline
and Prince Rainier of Monaco, and King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia
of Sweden. On the political front, British prime minister Tony Blair,
not sure if he's bringing the new baby, and France's prime minister
Jaques Chirac plan to stop by."

Rudy: "But you don't have to be royalty or a politician to go."

Michelle: "Nope, it's open to everyone and it stretches from June 1st
through October, so there's plenty of time to get to Hanover. And
that's this week's Culture Watch."